City Water (previously Redland Water) ensures wastewater is treated to a high standard before being discharged into the environment, and meets or exceeds the environmental licence requirements provided by the Department of Environment and Science.
Wastewater comes from domestic, commercial and industrial sources. In the home, wastewater comes from sinks, baths, showers, toilets and washing machines.
The Redlands maintains a network of more than 1200 km of wastewater pipes and seven wastewater treatment plants, located at Capalaba, Cleveland, Dunwich, Mount Cotton, Point Lookout, Thorneside and Victoria Point.
For updates on major sewer infrastructure upgrades and construction notices, visit the Your Say Redlands website.
Keeping pipes clear
The below diagram shows the internal wastewater pipes on your property that are your responsibility to maintain. For further information read the Protect your plumbing - stormwater vs wastewater fact sheet [PDF 1.0MB].
Taking care with what you flush down the toilet and sink can save time, money and inconvenience.
Personal wipes and towelettes, nappies, sanitary materials, cotton buds, razors and cleaning rags cause damage to pumps and pipes if flushed. These items should never be flushed.
Cooking oils, chemicals, food waste, newspapers, plastics, unused medicines and engine oils should never go down sinks or drains.
These items have a poor effect on the environment and can block wastewater pipes on your property, requiring repairs by a qualified plumber. Instead, wrap common household items like wipes and small amounts of cooking oil and place in the garbage.
Hazardous chemicals should be taken to a licensed hazardous waste contractor, unused medicines to a local chemist and engine oils to council's waste transfer stations.
Inspection covers (manholes)
Sewer manholes are positioned at regular intervals (approximately every 100 metres), or wherever there is a change in grade, direction or materials in the sewerage system. Manholes can be within your property boundary.
City Water requires easy access to manholes as they allow us to:
- inspect sewers by closed circuit television
- clean pipes
- clear blockages
- inspect infrastructure.
It is important that manholes are kept free of any obstructions. Please check that yours is not covered. When landscaping, please do not cover with dirt, concrete or paving.
Related information:
Online Wastewater Application – Connection, Alteration and Disconnection form
Overflow Relief Gullies (ORG)
The Overflow Relief Gully (ORG) is an important part of your wastewater system. It is a drain-like feature with a grated lid and is found in the ground outside your home.
The ORG directs wastewater overflow outside your home if there is a blockage within your property.
Example of an overflow relief gully
For the ORG to work correctly, please ensure that the grate is loosely fitted. Make sure it is not covered by pot plants, tiling, paving or landscaping and that your roofwater pipes do not feed directly into it.
If your property was connected to the wastewater system before the 1970s, you may not have an ORG. In this case, please contact a plumber to discuss.
Banner overflow relief gully
Wet weather:
During severe wet weather, the wastewater network will be inundated with stormwater. This can come from many sources, including roofwater pipes that feed into our system, either directly through illegal connections, or via pipes that terminate directly above ORGs.
This inundation of water can result in higher water levels or gurgling in your toilet. If a toilet is gurgling, it usually means the ORG is doing its job and preventing discharge occurring inside your house. Calling a plumber isn't necessary unless there is an actual blockage within your property's wastewater line.
Please be patient as we wait for the indundation to decrease and wastewater levels to return to normal flow, which may take a few days.
Dry weather:
During dry weather, there are two reasons an ORG may overflow:
- When you're not using water in the house and the ORG is continually overflowing, this may mean there is a blockage downstream within the Council wastewater network. Please contact Council so we can investigate.
- If the ORG overflows whenever you are using water in the house (e.g. flushing the toilet, running a tap or using awashing machine), this may mean there is a blockage in your wastewater line. Please contact a plumber.